Guide : Getting into the classical music business

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Getting into the classic business

What magnificent specimens did not exist from the Mercedes 190? DTM fans get sweaty hands faster than they would like with models like the 190 E 2.3-16V or even a 2.5-16V and even dream of a racing Evo. But the reality of the BMW E30 hunter was very different in the early 1980s. Many entry-level Mercedes models were simply, if not sparsely, equipped. The silver test subject from the year 1983, which is offered for dancing today, is just such a specimen. An early 190 carburetor from the W 201 series – for many, no more and no less than the Baby Benz with which Mercedes stormed the mid-range bestsellers BMW 3 Series and Ford Sierra. At that time, the diesel engines were real endurance runners, with the 190 D 2.5, which was introduced later, enjoying a great reputation in terms of durability and fuel costs. The Mercedes 190 E Elektro, which the Mercedes engineers put on wheels in 1990, was downright futuristic. In addition to a field test on the island of Rügen, where ten E-Mercedes 190s were in use, a model in Stuttgart also ran a total of 100,000 kilometers as a taxi without any problems. The pioneering Baby-Benz had a continuous output of a slim 19 kW / 26 hp and a maximum of 31 kW / 42 hp, was up to 110 km/h and could travel around 85 kilometers on one battery charge.

Getting into the classic business

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The little Benz was the perfect introduction to the brand with the three-pointed star and was supposed to shine with the qualities of its big brothers in terms of design, equipment and safety. “You will be measured against the S-Class,” Werner Breitschwerdt, head of technology and later CEO, told his team. Mercedes invested the gigantic sum of one billion marks, the engineers took a close look at around 60 chassis concepts, covered more than five million test kilometers and thus refined the complex multi-link rear axle. A masterpiece that can still be found in automobiles today. In terms of driving dynamics, the Mercedes 190 should set standards and differentiate itself from the decidedly dynamic BMW 3 Series. Front-wheel drive was not an option for the 4.42 meter long vehicle, so there were no transverse engines either. Therefore, the space was not opulent.

With its straight lines and few luxury elements, the interior has a contemporary practicality. The wedge-shaped design came from Bruno Sacco, who transferred the game with trapezoidal edges from the futuristic prototype C 111 to the compact class under the name “diamond cut”. The result was a good drag coefficient of 0.33, which was a valid argument at a time when the specter of the oil crisis was ever-present. Just like lightweight construction, which was high on the agenda at every developer meeting. The efforts have paid off. The Mercedes 190 weighed only around 1,100 kilograms. The technicians took weight off the car wherever possible. Just how obsessed the engineers were with this task is shown by the fact that they used a plastic oil filler cap, which took 41 grams out of the car.

So the 190 was not only economical, but also fast on the road. The basic versions had an in-line four-cylinder type M 102 installed. The four-cylinder in the silver Mercedes 190 delivers a manageable 66 kW / 90 hp (later 102 / 105 hp) and can reach a maximum speed of 175 km/h if desired. In day-to-day use, it is quite fast and extremely comfortable. The low mileage and the excellent condition do the rest to take you into the valance. Nevertheless, the 90 kW / 122 hp Mercedes 190 E is more popular and many classic car entrants are looking straight at the top versions of the 190 E 2.3 or even the six-cylinder 190 E 2.6. But there’s something about this metallic 190 carburetor with the bookkeeper trim – no question about it. For one thing, the green cloth interior is in pristine condition, missing the tachometer and pretty much everything that made driving a car enjoyable in the early 1980s. On the other hand, the front and rear windows are cranked down manually, the seats heat up solely through the waste heat of the body and the sunroof not only gives you a view of the sky, but also a small gymnastic exercise, since this also has no motor and more a chrome handle has to be pulled backwards.

But what does that matter if the odometer is still cavorting casually below the 40,000 mark? At that time, entry into the starry world of the 190 cost at least 25,538 German marks – the difference to the basic models of the larger E-Class, which at that time only bore the designation W 123, was manageable. After all, the upper-class models were on the road with a similarly narrow standard equipment ex works. But the Baby Benz was surrounded by the charm and appeal of the new. Finally a competitor for BMW 3 Series and the so successful Ford Sierra. Hard to believe that Ford once played in this league and Mercedes had no shame in calling the 190 a middle class.

The first series of the W 201 still did without the intelligent lift wiper and also didn’t shine with the charismatic Sacco planks, which made it look more stately and powerful regardless of plastic hubcaps or aluminum rims. The bright entry-level model also lacks these and that is exactly what makes it so charming. Solid engine, sophisticated technology and undoubtedly a classic of the future – even if the dream car most classic fans are looking for has probably covered more than 40,000 kilometers. Even with higher mileage, the Mercedes 190 is also a good choice as a basic carburetor. The supply on the used car market is greater than ever, since from 1982 to August 1993 almost 1.9 million Mercedes 190s left the production facilities of the Swabian car manufacturer. The supply of parts is good and the quality is also solid. This is how the search for a Mercedes 190 with or without accounting equipment can begin. Solid models start at 3,000 euros; largely independent of the engine variant. With a mileage of well under 100,000 kilometers, it starts at around 7,000 euros. There is also a 122 hp 190 E in rust-free condition and equipment that includes an electric sunroof, rev counter, electric antenna and a passenger-side mirror. And there are always well-groomed wood pigeons with electric windows, air conditioning and alloy wheels – just search. Worth it. Entering the affordable world of classics could hardly be easier – and less risky.

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